Liu Tao

Liu Tao (died 185) was a Han court counselor during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. In 185 AD, he asked Emperor Ling how he could be feasting as his empire crumbled, and he blamed the Han's problems on the Ten Eunuchs. The Eunuchs responded by putting on a show for the emperor, weeping bitterly while promising the sale of their lands to help pay for military expenditures; swayed by the Eunuchs' deceit, the Emperor had Liu Tao sentenced to death. He also had Interior Minister Chen Dan imprisoned for his opposition to the Eunuchs, and both men were murdered in prison.